I need your help.
Am I my brother’s keeper? Cain asked God this, while hiding his dead brother’s body.
Today, this question comes home to roost. Look at America’s southern border. Look at the people at the entrances to Mall parking lots, seeking a hand out.
Am I my brother’s keeper?
Jesus answered a similar question, “Who is my neighbor?”
By allowing illegal aliens to cross our borders, are Americans helping the poor? I don’t want to get into the politics of that issue. It’s just, we Christians- Is that all we’re required to do? What about the Gospel? Which is more important, a full stomach or salvation?
On top of this, do all those people truly need our help? Being a pastor, I’ve seen scores of phoney-baloneys at my front door, with their hands out. What do I do?
And I believe the church has become jaded, cynical on this issue. Recently, I asked a group of Christians a question- What percent of the “beggars” outside of Malls are con men?
Without hesitation someone answered, “98%”
Then someone else chimed in, “99%”.
Wow!
What about you? Do you roll down the window and hand over some cash?
I don’t know. Maybe we’re using our suspicion of other’s intents as an excuse to cling to our money.
So I’m asking, being our brother’s keeper, how far do we go? Can I give to a stranger, or am I just being conned?
Talk to me. I’d love to hear you’re opinion.
Luke 10:25-37
And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?”
So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’”
And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.”
But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’ So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?”
And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.”
Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”